Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALDESBIM’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALDESBIM’, particularly characterized by having bright purple flowers with small light centers, 1 to 2 peduncles, an inflorescence that is long and moderate, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALDESBIM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALDESBIM’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leavesmay be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, arethree-lobed and are often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow,and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arisefrom the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants aredetached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitablesubstrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDESBIM’ is particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique bright purple flowers with small light centers,economical propagation by tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plantdimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

‘PHALDESBIM’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by theinventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDESBIM’ originated from a cross made inFebruary 2005 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is apurple Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘10007-0001’ (unpatented), while themale parent is a light purple with center Phalaenopsis pot plant named‘22790-0002’ (unpatented). A single plant was selected in August 2008and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by meristem tissue culturein Bleiswijk, The Netherlands over a 4.5-year period. The new varietyhas been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughsuccessive asexual propagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALDESBIM’ by tissue culture was firstperformed in June 2011 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Sep. 29, 2014. ‘PHALDESBIM’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

-   -   1) Bright purple flowers with a small light center;    -   2) 1 to 2 peduncles;    -   3) Inflorescence is long and moderate;    -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong; and    -   5) Plants are propagated by meristem tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms andfoliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are ofa 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlandsin August 2015.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of‘PHALDESBIM’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALDESBIM’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALDESBIM’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALDESBIM’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inBleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 50-week oldplants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12 centimeter pots andgrown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continuedby a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks ina greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in August 2015. Colorreadings were taken under 4-6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse.Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (1995).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.        -   Common name.—Phalaenopsis.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALDESBIM’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘10007-0001’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘22790-0002’            (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture.-   Plant:    -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—48            to 50 weeks for a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of inflorescence.—Standard, green leaves,            raceme to panicle.        -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—58.0 cm to            68.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—33.0 cm to 37.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots with lightly            branching lateral roots having light green colored root            tips.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 5 to 8 leaves are            produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 16.0 cm            to 18.0 cm. Width: 7.0 cm to 9.0 cm. Shape: Obovate. Base            shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Unequal obtuse. Leaf            blade angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal            position): Between 15 degrees and 45 degrees. Leaf margin:            Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A with small edge            (diluted RHS 183C). Lower surface: Mix of RHS 146B and 187A.            Texture: Slightly rough. Thickness: 2.1 mm to 2.4 mm.            Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper            surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 187A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—10 to 15.        -   Length.—50.0 cm to 55.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—4.8 mm to 5.3 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendent.        -   Texture.—Slightly rough.        -   Color.—Brown (RHS 200A) with small greyed-green spots (RHS            191B).        -   Internode length.—30.0 mm to 40.0 mm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendent, raceme to panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 265.0 mm to            295.0 mm. Diameter: 4.1 mm to 4.4 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 70.0 mm to 75.0 mm. Diameter: 85.0 mm to            90.0 mm. Depth of lip: 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 11 to 13 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flower bud.—Average size: Large. Length: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm.            Width: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color: Dark            purple (RHS 187B and 72A).        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Almost touching. Shape: Semi-circular.            Apex: Emarginated asymmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from            base to tip): 41.0 mm to 43.0 mm. Width: 54.0 mm to 56.0 mm.            Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color:            Purple (RHS 78A) with lighter center (RHS 78D) and darker            base (RHS 78A). Over color: Light purple center (RHS 76C).            Lower surface: Basic color: Purple (RHS 80B). Over color:            Purple (RHS 76C).        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Obtuse/rounded            symmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 41.0            mm to 43.0 mm. Width: 29.0 mm to 31.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Purple (RHS 78B)            slightly striped and netted (RHS 78A) with purple base (RHS            78A). Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic color: Purple            (RHS 78C). Over color: Absent.        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.            Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 40.0 mm to            42.0 mm. Width: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Purple (RHS 78B)            slightly striped and netted (RHS 78A). Over color: Light            green (RHS 145C). Lower surface: Basic color: Purple (RHS            78B and 78C). Over color: Light green (RHS 145D); stripe in            the middle towards the base (RHS 146D).        -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Entire. Whiskers: Present. Length of            whiskers: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm. Color of whiskers: Purple (RHS            78A) with small white tips (RHS 155C). Pubescence on the            lip: Absent.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the            International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of            Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate.            Length (from base to tip): 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm. Width: 15.0            mm to 17.0 mm. Color: Dark red-purple (RHS 185A) with purple            edge (RHS 78A) and slightly yellow base (RHS 12A).        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular. Length: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm.            Width: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm. Color: Purple (RHS 78A) and            slightly yellow towards the base (RHS 12C).        -   Callus.—Average size: Medium. Height: 0.6 cm to 0.8 cm.            Length: 0.6 cm to 0.8 cm. Width: 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm. Color:            Yellow-orange (RHS 23A) dotted (RHS 173A).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present.        -   Column.—Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm. Diameter: 5.7 mm to            5.9 mm. Color: Purple (RHS 78A to RHS 78B).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Size: 1.0 mm to 1.2 mm. Color: Orange            (RHS 24A).        -   Ovary.—Part of the pedicel with small ribs towards the            column. Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Diameter: 2.2 mm to 2.4            mm.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 34.0 mm to 36.0 mm. Diameter: 2.9 mm to            3.1 mm. Color: From the inflorescence greyed-purple on one            side (RHS 183A); green (RHS 146D and 145B) and light purple            (RHS 75D) towards the flower.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a    high temperature of about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

The female parent plant ‘10007-0001’ (unpatented) is unavailable forcomparison.

‘PHALDESBIM’ differs from male parent plant ‘22790-0002’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALDESBIM’ has smaller flowers and shorter whiskers than‘22790-0002’. Additionally, ‘PHALDESBIM’ has lateral sepals that areeven at the base, whereas ‘22790-0002’ has lateral sepals that aredotted at the base.

‘PHALDESBIM’ differs from commercial variety ‘PHALBAZOKU’ (unpatented)in that ‘PHALDESBIM’ has a lighter apical lobe of the lip and a lighterlateral lobe of the lip on the backside than ‘PHALBAZOKU’. Additionally,‘PHALDESBIM’ has longer whiskers than ‘PHALBAZOKU’.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALDESBIM’ substantially as described and illustrated herein.